Method and apparatus for analyzing a communications network link

• US 7,072,305 B1
• Filed: 10/29/1999
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Applied Digital Access, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Gregson, J. Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US09/430,687
• Time in Patent Office: 2,440 Days
• Field of Search: 370241-245, 370/252, 370/253, 370/248, 370/249, 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/102.03, 714/25, 714/47, 714/712, 714/715, 714/716, 714/717, 714/821
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/24 Testing correct operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0681 Configuration of triggering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/067 using time frame reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0829 Packet loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0847 Transmission error
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0852 Delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/106 using time related information in packets, e.g. by adding timestamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

A method and system for testing at least one link in a communications network. The system includes first and second analyzer units that are configured to test an existing link in the network. Alternatively, the first and second analyzer units may be configured to establish and test a link between them. A computer remotely controls the first and second analyzer units to perform testing of various communication parameters, such as packet loss and latency. Each analyzer unit may be configured to collect data over a predetermined duration to establish a network baseline of operation, which may be used to detect future network malfunctions. The computer estimates the deviation of communication parameters from the network baseline.

Claims

1. A system for testing at least one link in a communications network, the system comprising:

a first analyzer unit in data communication with the network;

a second analyzer unit in data communication with the first analyzer; and

a computer in data communication with the first and second analyzers, the computer being configured to command the first analyzer unit to establish a network link with the second analyzer unit, collect diagnostic data from the network link, and communicate the data from the first analyzer unit to the computer, wherein the computer is configured to determine whether a parameter associated with the diagnostic data deviates from a network baseline by a predetermined threshold, the network baseline being dependent at least in part upon data collected previously from the network.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second analyzer units are connected to the network at the location of the network boundary.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the network includes at least one of ATM, frame relay, Internet, ISDN, and SONET circuits.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the computer is configured to communicate with the first and second analyzer units via a facilities data link (FDL).

5. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first analyzer unit is configured to measure at least one communication parameter in the network link.

6. The system as defined in claim 5, wherein the communication parameter includes at least one of a packet loss and packet latency of the network link.

7. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second analyzer units is configured to non-intrusively inject data in the network.

8. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first analyzer unit is configured to collect baseline diagnostic data over a predetermined duration to represent a network baseline.

9. The system as defined in claim 8, wherein the computer issues an alert in the event that the diagnostic data deviate from the baseline by a predetermined threshold.

24. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to estimate the average packet loss or latency during a predetermined period of time to establish the network baseline.

10. A method of testing at least one link in a communications network, the method comprising:

establishing a link between a first analyzer unit and a second analyzer unit that are connected to the network;

measuring at least one communication parameter of the link;

determining whether the communication parameter deviates from a network baseline by a predetermined threshold; and

issuing an alert in the event that the communication parameter deviates from the network baseline by the predetermined threshold, the newtork baseline being dependent at least in part upon data collected previously from the newtork.

11. The method as defined in claim 10, further comprising transmitting the communication parameter to a computer.

12. The method as defined in claim 10, further comprising remotely commanding the first and second analyzer units via commands via the network.

13. The method as defined in claim 10, further comprising remotely commanding the first and second analyzer units via commands communicated over a facilities data link (FDL).

14. The method as defined in claim 10, further comprising collecting diagnostic data from the network for a predetermined duration, the diagnostic data representing a network baseline.

15. The method as defined in claim 14, further comprising estimating a statistical average of the at least one communication parameter for the same time, day, and location.

16. The method as defined in claim 10, further comprising non-intrusively injecting data by the first analyzer unit into the network.

17. The method as defined in claim 16, further comprising receiving the non-intrusively injected data by the second analyzer unit from the network.

18. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein measuring at least one communication parameter includes measuring at least one of a packet loss and packet latency of the link.

19. A system for testing at least one link in a communications network, the system comprising:

first means for analyzing the link, the first analyzing means in being data communication with the network;

second means for analyzing the link, the second analyzing means being in data communication with the first analyzing means; and

means for controlling the first and second analyzing means, the controlling means being configured to command the first analyzing means to establish a network link with the second analyzing means, collect diagnostic data from the network link, and communicate the data from the first analyzing means to the controlling means, and wherein the controlling means is configured to determine whether a parameter associated with the diagnostic data deviates from a network baseline by a predetermined threshold, the network baseline being dependent at least in part upon data collected previously from the newtork.

20. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein the network includes at least on of an ATM, frame relay, Internet, ISDN, and SONET circuits.

21. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein the controlling means communicates data with the first and second analyzing means via a facilities data link (FDL).

22. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein the first analyzing means measures a packet loss and latency of the network link.

23. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein at least one of the first and second analyzing means non-intrusively injects data in the network.